Brace for freight-cars.



PATENTED Jlmn'zs, 1907. NOR.

BRAGE FOR FREIGHT CARS. APPLIOATION FILED snr*r.12.1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

HENRY HEARD, OF ATHENS, AND EDWARD D. TREANOR, or MILLEDGE- VILLE, GEORGIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

App i n le September 12,1905. Serial No. 273,145.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY HEARD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of Clark, State of Georgia, and EDWARD D. TREANOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milledgeville, in the county of Baldwin and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Braces for Freight-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a device for preventing cars loaded with grain, coal or the like, bulging.

Under ordinary circumstances a box car loaded with grain will bulge at the center of its sides approximately one-half of an inch to- 2%, and at the ends, about one-quarter of an inch. This distortion varies according to the strength of the car and the load it is carrying, but in any event a car once loaded and bulged at its sides, becomes set in shape, the result being its structure is considerably weakened, and its efliciencv is reduced, and the door has to be forced open.

According to our invention we propose to provide an adjustable detachable brace, located preferably each side the door frame, so that as the car is loaded the brace is positioned and tightened to resist the outward strain, to preserve the shape of the car, and materially assist in preserving the structure.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the application of our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section showing the invention applied to a car. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a view simiar to Fig. 2, but showing a slightly different form. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a slight modification.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a difierent means for supporting the brace.

The same numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

1 indicates an ordinary freight car of the box type, 2 the door openings, and 3 the door frame. A keeper 4 atteachd to the door frame secures a hook 5, adapted to turn in the keeper, and which supports a rod or chain 6, formed at one end with screw threads 7. A turn buckle 8 en ages threads 7, and the threaded end 8 of a bolt 9 provided with ahead 10 which fits in a slot 11in frame 3, and behind a pair of vertical fingers 12 of a plate 14, secured in place by bolts 15. The' bottom of opening 11 merges into passage 16, through which grain may fall to the car to prevent packing around head 10.

In Figs. 4 and 5 we have shown a chain 18 in lieu of a rod, and a slightly different means for securing the ends to the frame. In these figures a hook 19 is fixed to the frame, and an eye 20, is secured to said frame on the opposite side. A

In Fig. 6 we have shown a modification, wherein a rod 21 is provided with a square portion 22 to receive a wrench, and screw threads to engage an eye 23 adaptedtd be supported by a hook on the car frame.

In the practical application of our invention, we attach a brace on each upright post adjacent the door opening- This particular location is recognized by those familiar with the art as being the weakest point where outward thrust occurs in the whole car structure,

. when loaded, hence we attach our device at this point. And to provide a device of the character described that may be readily and conveniently put in place, or dismantled, we have found it necessary to arrange the parts as described. After a brace has been applied the turn-buckle is manipulated to take up the slack to preserye the designed width of the car. As the grain is delivered to the car the outward strain on the sides is relieved by the braces, and bulging is absolutely prevented. As the grain is unloaded, and strain on the car sides is relieved, the turn-buckles are released, and the brace may be folded up along side the car and supported in any suitable manner, ready for use when .the car is again loaded. When, necessary,

our improved braces may be employed ,to brace the ends of a car as shown in Fig. 1. Obviously the sameresults and mode of operation set forth in connection with the side braces, will be present when the invention is 'used for this purpose.

Experience has shown that when a loaded freight car is bulged atthe sides, it also causes it to sway at the top. This materially weakens the structure, as well as causing unnecessary strain on the lower tie braces. In the disclosure shown in Fig. 7, the keeper 7, is applied to the frame 3, in such manner as to avoid projections on the too inner side of the car, as Will be readily under-- stood.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, frames opposite door openings of a freight car, a fastening plate secured to the frame, a brace having one end fastened to the late, and a slot formed in the frame behind t e plate and opening into the car above and below the late.

2. In combination, a ireight car of boX type having opposite side door openings at or near the center of the car, frames surrounding the door openings and connected by the car roof, a brace on one side the door opening which connects the frames on opposite sides of the car, a second brace connecting the other two sides of the frames on opposite sides of the car, each of said braces comprising means for pivotally connecting it to the door frame, means for detachably securing 20 the other end of said brace to the frame on the opposite side of the car, and a device forming a part of the brace for taking up slack and adjusting said brace between the door frames.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures, in presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY HEARD. E. D. TREANOR.

Witnesses:

S. E. BAILEY, FRANK H. BOWDEN. 

